Integrated High Impact Extension, Research, and Education Program for Undergraduate Students in Reuse Water Quality. Grant uri icon

abstract

  • The object this proposal will be to develop an integrated science-based experiential integrated, education-research-extension, undergraduate water quality training program. Students will attend a comprehensive series of workshops and short course lectures that will present the basic scientific principles for, 1) the movement of water over the surface and through the soil including infiltration, percolation, and overland flow processes, and 2) the physio-chemical properties, transformations and path ways of the most common agricultural chemicals, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), and the bacterium, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and 3) the functional operation of anaerobic and aerobic onsite sewage facilities (OSSFs). The movement of N, P, and E. coli will be studied at the OSSF training center at the Texas A&M University Riverside campus. This Extension training facility includes both anaerobic and aerobic OSSFs. Students will be involved in research projects that will assess the transport of N, P, and E. coli through the soil and over the surface of both anaerobic and aerobic OSSFs. Students will be required to participate in Extension programs related to OSSFs. Students will assist Extension specialists with, 1) the delivery of OSSF workshops to homeowners, 2) the development of OSSF educational materials, 3) assessment of existing OSSFs that are failing, 4) siting and plans for the installation of new OSSFs, and 5) OSSF Extension reports.

date/time interval

  • 2016 - 2024